Hounsou Joins “Shazam,” Johnson On Black Adam

Djimon Hounsou (“Amistad,” “Guardians of the Galaxy”) has scored the role of The Wizard in the “Shazam” film at Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Films reports EW. In the film, The Wizard is the one who bestows teenage Billy Batson (Asher Angel) with mystical powers that allow him to turn into the adult hero Shazam (Zachary Levi).

Hounsou is replacing the previously cast Ron Cephas Jones in the role after a scheduling conflict prevented Jones from taking it. As the film has already wrapped, Hounsou has shot his scenes already. A big reveal for “Shazam” is expected to take place at Comic-Con in San Diego later this month.

In the comics, Shazam often takes on his nemesis Black Adam. Dwayne Johnson was originally planning to play him as the antagonist of this film but opted to instead do a solo “Black Adam” film first. Now, speaking with FilmStarts this week to promote “Skyscraper,” he suggests the “Black Adam” film won’t even begin to shoot until late 2019 at the earliest:

“With Black Adam I don’t think we’re going to start early next year. Early next year right now it looks like I’m going to be shooting Jumanji [3], and then after that if everything goes well I’ll shoot a movie called Red Notice with Rawson Thurber again, with Gal Gadot, and another actor yet to be named. But Black Adam possibly at the end of next year. It’s coming along great, the script is coming along great we’re very happy with it.”

Johnson also says there “MIGHT be maybe a cameo or two of some of the other DC superheroes” in the “Black Adam” film. Adam Sztykiel is penning the script for the film which has yet to secure a director. David F. Sandberg directs “Shazam” which opens April 5th 2019.